The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-24
KICK away, OLD FELLOW!
A METHOD OF SOCIAL PURIFI-
CA hon In UTAH.
An Interesting RemIniscence Of
Life In the Merm0n
Country.

tComp'led from Volume /. OF Hubert Howe
"a BanorOit's Popular Tribunals.
y During the civil war crime was
rampant in Montana; murders and
robberies we're OF almost daily occur
renee. \ The sheriff of the territory,
Henry Plummer, was suddenly dis
covered tobe tho leader Of an organ
lied gang OF cutthroats numbering
over 100 members. At leugth the
better element in the community took
matters in their own hands, organized
vigilance committees, aud commenced
hanging the rsscals. The committee
at Bannock had barely organized
when a communication was brought
them by four trusIy citizens of
neighboriug town asking them to ar
rest and execute Plummer aud two
Of his followers. These ruffians we're
then in Bannock, where they had
come preparatory to leaving the
country. The committee knew there
was no time to lose; they searched
the town and succeeded in arresting
their men.
The great leader, who had been in
strumental in q hundred murders,
begged hard for his life. He cried
like a child, asked to be chained
down, and offered to leave the coun-
ny forever. He declared that he was
TOO wicked TO die. In his possession
was found paper describing the
band and giving an account OF their
movements and of their future plans.
The three were taken without delay
into an unfinished building and hang
cd to a convenient cross beam.
Having disposed Of these the COM
mittee had time to consider the case
Of John Wagner, whom they had ar
rested aud confined in an empty cabin
till they could decide on his late. 1t
was unanimously determined that he
should be hanged as a highwayman
and robber Tor his numerous villain
les OF the past four years. One Of
their number was apI ointed to no.
tify the prisoner that he would be
led to execution within an hour. At
first his trepidation was extreme; he
begged that they would punish him
in any other way. Cut of my legs
aud arms" he said, and let me go [;
you know / could do nothing then.
His courage, however, ultimately re-
turned, and the bravery he exhibited
when at the gallows excited the sym
patty Of his executioners. He was
led TO the building where his COM
rades had been executed, and saw
their stiffening bodies ready for
burial. He ganed at them stolidly
and few hours later was laid beside
them.
In the ueighboring town Of Vir.
ginia, one morning, the vigilants
were TO be seen fully armed, station
cd in every direction so as TO prevent
any one from passing out OF the
place. Five rascals we're arrested
pinioned and brought in front Of the
Virginia Hotel, where they we're ar.
ranged 10 row. The worst OF the
lot was Boone Helm, who had emf
grated from Missouri in 1850, aftel
he had committed q murder there
and had been pursued aud brought
into court. His trial was postponed
three times, aud finally he was SCI
free; he then came 10 California
where he is said TO have killed doz
en- men.
Helm had left the Dilles in tn,
autumn OF 1887 for Salt Lake City IL
company with seven gamblers, car
rying all the necessary Implement
OF their profession, aud taking I
race horse which was TO beat every
thing in Utah. They we're attacked
by Indians aud fought them ioro foul
days, when a snow storm set IN anC
six OF the villains persisted. The las
Of his companions became SNOW
blind, and as their provisions wer,
growing low Helm shot him for food
Soon after reaching Uiah he joined
band OF horse thieves and made raid
on California. Next we find him a
Los Angeles, where he robbed {
store keeper; then we hear of him a
the Salm ~ river mines, where h,
shot a man one Sunday for reiusinl
70 drink with him.
The prisoners ia the hands Of III,
Virginia committee we're examine,
one by one, and each confessed sep
arately to crimes. The five wer,
taken 10 a half flushed building uea
at hand, where the main beam run
ming across the building answere,
admirably for the purpose in hand
While Helm was looking at the mus
sular contottiOns oil one oi his fel
lows, he said: XXX away, old iel
low; Ill be in hell with you in
minute" The Osreerlof all was sool
ended.